ASSESSMENT OF DAMS’ TROPHIC STATUS AS A TOOL FOR WATER RESOURCES’ SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT IN MOROCCO: CASE OF THE BOUHOUDA TAOUNATE DAM (MOROCCO)

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International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)
Volume 10, Issue 03, March 2019, pp. 163–176, Article ID: IJCIET_10_03_015
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijmet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=3
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
© IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed
ASSESSMENT OF DAMS’ TROPHIC STATUS AS
A TOOL FOR WATER RESOURCES’
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT IN MOROCCO:
CASE OF THE BOUHOUDA TAOUNATE DAM
(MOROCCO)
Aicha HAMID, Oussama BENABBI and Mohammed FEKHAOUI
Head of Geo-Biodiversity and Natural Patrimony Laboratory GEOPAC Research Center,
Scientific Institute, Mohammed V University, Av. Ibn Batouta, B.P 703,
10106 Rabat, Morocco
ABSTRACT
The Bouhouda’s dam was built on Oued Sra, a tributary on the right bank of
Ouergha wadi, about 18 km in the north of Taounate town. The waters of this dam are
mainly intended for irrigation and drinking water supply (Ministry of town planning
and urban planning, 2014). The aim of this paper is to study the quality and the
spatio-temporal evolution of the physicochemical of this dam waters parameters of
over a period of eight years (2000/2008) in order to have a better knowledge of the
mechanisms and the factors that condition the eutrophication of this lake. A
classification has been established based on the Carlson index (1977) (Trophic State
Index or TSI) and the Vollenweider index (1968), to identify the trophic state of the
reservoir waters. Accordingly, these results can be used for decision support in the
context of sustainable development of several nearby dams in the Sbou Basin.
Key words: Bouhouda dam, physiochemistry, eutrophication, trophic state, Carlson
index, Vollenweider index, Sebou basin.
Cite this Article: Aicha HAMID, Oussama BENABBI and Mohammed FEKHAOUI,
Assessment of Dams’ Trophic Status as a Tool for Water Resources’Sustainable
Management in Morocco: Case of the Bouhouda Taounate Dam (Morocco),
International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology 10(3), 2019, pp. 163–176.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=3
1. INTRODUCTION
Since the beginning of this century, the socio-economic conditions of water use have changed
considerably in Morocco, a country with a semi-arid climate, the development of urban
agglomerations, the demographic pressure and the limitation of groundwater resources [1]
mean that the country has more and more recourse to the superficial waters to satisfy in
sufficient quantity, the needs of the populations in drinking and industrial water built [2]. The
installation of the storage reservoirs plays certainly a positive role given the drawn

advantages, but severe part as for the social and environmental continuations. In fact, the
health consequences of their construction have been neglected. Such as their contribution in
the Greenhouse Gaz production [3] the erosion effects and the risks related to the storage
reservoirs [4] Reservoirs present quickly and often signs of silting [5] and eutrophication. The
eutrophication is a phenomenon of lakes’ aging that leads inevitably to a major order
ecological imbalance [6] and which represent the object of our present study. Eutrophication
is water enrichment in nutrients, which are primarily phosphorus and nitrogenizes or
hyperfertilisation [7], these elements support the growth of the plants. It is generally related to
anthropic contribution due to arable lands presence, to the purification stations rejections or to
the effluents domestic rejections [8]. Eutrophication involves a degradation of the aquatic
environments and a reduction of the biodiversity, in consequence of the aquatic ecosystems
asphyxiation following a massive algae proliferation, which consume all the oxygen needed
for the ecosystem [9]. This deterioration is not without consequences on human health;
because it could lead to various diseases such as: cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, bilharziasis and
chemical poisoning [10] .This water, of lesser quality, makes the water purification treatment
of reservoirs complex and expensive[11].
The purpose of our present study is to determine the causes of eutrophication, its
consequences and the share of anthropogenic activity in accelerating its harmful effects on a
given lake ecosystem.
2. MATERIAL AND METHOD
2.1. Presentation of the study environment
The Bouhouda dam was built on Oued Sra, a tributary of Ouergha wadi’s right shore, about
18 km north of Taounate city (Figure 1). The project is located in a region where the
geological formations limit groundwater potentialities despite the rainfall importance.The
Bouhouda dam is intended for an area irrigation (about 3000 ha) and for the drinking water
supply until 2020 in the center of Bouhouda [11].
The study area climate is warm semi-arid Mediterranean type, where the seasonal
contrasts are much accentuated. The rainfall ranges from 350 to 600 mm and the temperature
oscillates between a minimum of 12.5 °C and a maximum of 37 °C.
Figure 1 Location of Lake Bouhouda [12]

Assessment of Dams’ Trophic Status as a Tool for Water Resources’Sustainable Management in
Morocco: Case of the Bouhouda Taounate Dam (Morocco)
Table 1. Morphometric and hydrological characteristics of the dam lake Bouhouda [13]
Date of impoundment 1999
Watercourse Sra
Province Taounate
The nearest town Bouhouda
function Irrigation / Drinking water supply
Overall capacity of the reservoir 55Mm3
Average annual contributions 303Mm3
Characteristics of the book: Type:
Heights: Volume:
BCR
55m
220.000m3
Works duration 48 month
2.2. Sampling and analysis methods
The lake was sampled between 09/03/2000 and 06/08/2008 with a sampling frequency of
once a month at the catchment level of ONEP [14] in order to study the majority of its
physicochemical characteristics (temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH,
chlorophyll a, transparency, nitrogen elements, orthophosphates and total phosphorus, cations,
etc.).
In order to determine the degree of the lake stratification, a profile of temperature, pH and
oxygen was made only twice during 2003 because of the difficulty of access. Therefore, the
month June represents the summer season and the month October represents the fall season.
3. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
3.1. Water Balance
For water supplies, a series of records made from 1942 until 2008, to compare the average
inputs in millions of m3 before and after the impoundment of the Bouhouda dam, are
presented below.

Figure 2. Water supply before and after the Bouhouda dam impoundment
Contributions were irregular from a year to another. The minimum was recorded during
1996-97 and the maximum during 1942-43, respectively 21.1 and 814.1 Mm3. However, the
global analysis of these fluctuations since 1999 permit to distinguish that the inputs are much
more sustained after the dam impoundment with an average of 225.2 Mm3.
3.2. Temperatures
3.2.1. Seasonal variations
Considered among the most important ecological factors, water temperature is closely related
to a whole set of parameters, its alteration can lead to various ecological consequences [15].
The lake water temperature variations depend on the ambient atmospheric temperature
variations, which is as well subject to seasonal variations (R2 = 0.6687) (Figure 3). The
presence of a seasonal cycle in this data series is perceptible. This cycle shows that the water
temperature is minimal during the cold season and maximal during the hot season, which
certainly favours, in the summer period, the development of plankton, an important factor in
water purification [16].
Figure 3. Inter-annual evolution and correlation of Lake Bouhouda water and air temperatures.

3.2.2. Stratification and mixing waters cycle
A Sudden thermal stratification of the temperature was detected in autumn. The reservoir
appears subdivided into a low part called cold hypolimnion and a high part called hot
epilimnion, separated by a thermocline located at a depth of 7-9 m, these periods are
associated with wet periods (rainfall). Unlike the summer season, there is a less pronounced
and progressive thermal stratification to be diffused beyond 15 m until the total mixing at
depth.
Figure 4. Vertical profiles of seasonal temperature variation in Bouhouda Lake
3.3. pH
The pH has shown relatively high values between 7.8 and 10.20. These values are all situated
in the VMR range [14] (Figure 5), with a pH that is above the alkalinity threshold (8.2). This
allows us to deduce that the dam water is alkaline. This alkalinity could be due, on one hand,
to the biological activity of the aquatic ecosystems (photosynthesis and mineralization of
organic matter), on the other hand to the land crossed nature and/or to the Sra wadi water
inputs.
Figure 5. Inter-annual evolution of Bouhouda Lake PH.

3.3.2. pH stratification state
Seasonal variations show a very strong and brutal stratification during the wet period
(autumn) with the highest values at the surface, unlike the summer period where the
stratification is less pronounced and settles progressively. The pH content decreases
considerably between the surface, where the activity of photosynthesis is very important
(intense light, strong heat), and the depth that is characterised by a lack of light and a lower
temperature (reduction of photosynthesis) during the summer and the autumn.
Figure 6. Vertical profiles of pH seasonal variation in Bouhouda Lake
3.4. Dissolved oxygen and oxydability
Dissolved oxygen is one of the most sensitive parameters to pollution. Its value gives us
information on the degree of pollution and consequently on the degree of selfpurification of a
watercourse [17]. Except the low value founded in 2007 (4.7 mg / l), the dissolved oxygen
levels reveal that Bouhouda Lake waters are sufficiently oxygenated. Values vary between 6.1
mg/l and 11.5 mg/l.
The oxydability measured values are low (good results according to the surface water
quality standards). The maximum recorded is 5.1 (05/2000) (figure 9). The minima are in the
order of 0.66 and 0.84mg/l.
The inter-annual evolution is very irregular due to the hydrological conditions instability
that characterizes this environment. The average high values would probably coincide with
the autumnal photosynthesis of the highly active algal and zooplanktonic biomasses.

Figure 7. Dissolved oxygen variation and oxydability of Bouhouda Lake.
3.4.2. Stratification state of dissolved oxygen
The oxygen vertical profile shows that the summer mixing, even incomplete, has allowed a
low reoxygenation of the bottom, however higher concentrations of dissolved oxygen are
observed at the surface (8.3 and 8.5 mgO2/l). Lower in the column, the partial reoxygenation
reaches 3.6 mgO2/l at the bottom; this observation demonstrates that the hypolimnion has a
sufficient amount of dissolved oxygen in the summertime.
However the lack of oxygen present in autumn shows a significant deep biodegradation.
The average difference in surface-bottom oxygenation is important (figure 8).
The availability of light in the water column is a major physical factor, since that the water
transparency plays a dominant role in the dissolved oxygen stratification. Indeed, there is a
depth of compensation in terms of dissolved oxygen, defined as the depth where
photosynthetic production rates are equal to organisms’ respiration rates.
Figure 8. Vertical profiles of seasonal variation Dissolved oxygen in Bouhouda Lake
3.5. Water Turbidity, Suspended Materials and Dry Residues
A similarity and a correlation between Bouhouda Lake’s turbidity and suspended material
(SM) are noticed.
Oxydability(mgO2/l)
DissolvedOxygen(mg/l)
M onth
Dam retention
O2…
Oxydabi…

In fact, turbidity measures the degree of light penetration in the water column. The most
important values were recorded in 08/2002 and 01/2004.
Figure 9. Variation and correlation of Bouhouda Lake’s turbidity and SM.
For dry residues, all the recorded values do not exceed 300 mg/l, then the lake water
remains weakly mineralized.
Figure 10. The variation and correlation of Bouhouda Lake turbidity and dry residues.
3.6. Conductivity
The lake's conductivity data remains moderate (<300 μS / cm) during the entire sampling
period, which indicates that the mineralization and the release of minerals by the
decomposition of organic matter are quite low in the lake.
Figure 11. Evolution of the conductivity in μS / cm in Bouhouda Lake.
Suspended
Mat
Dryresidues(mg/l)
Turbidity(NTU)
M onth
Bouhouda
Turbidity

3.7. Chlorophyll a
Chlorophyll (a) is marked by a very high seasonal variability during the study period. The
highest concentration 13 mg/m3; was recorded in 2001, 2002 and 2004 (Figure 12). This
fairly important level of chlorophyll (a) reflects the presence of a large phytoplankton
biomass; therefore, the water column is quite rich in nutrients.
Figure 12. Inter-annual evolution of chlorophyll (a) in Bouhouda Lake
3.8. Transparency
The water’s transparency varies irregularly and depends on the hydrological cycles, especially
on the phytoplankton and algal productivity. In fact, seasonal variations show that the dam
waters are poorly transparent, especially in winter, and relatively transparent in summer and
autumn.
Figure 13. Inter-annual variations in transparency and chlorophyll (a).
The comparison of the chlorophyll (a) and transparency variation profiles (Figure 13)
shows some correlation except for few points. This suggests that the lake productivity is the
main responsible factor of this state, and not the winter and autumn inflows water (which are
heavily loaded with suspended matter).

3.9. Nutritional elements
3.9.1. Orthophosphates and Phosphorus Total
Orthophosphates have low variability except a peak in 2001, where a value of 0.43 mg/l is
recorded (Figure 14). The maximum records of total phosphorus concentrations (PT-P) are
1.6 and 1.9 mg/l, registered respectively in 2002 and 2004. The other values recorded do not
exceed the maximum value of 1 mg /l. However, according to the lake water quality grid, the
recorded values classify these waters as medium to poor waters.
Figure 14. Inter-annual evolution of orthophosphates and total phosphorus.
3.9.2. Nitrogen salts
Nitrate contents (NO3-), which represent the essential of the total nitrogen, show significant
seasonal variations. They are relatively high in the winter-spring period due to the good water
oxygenation combined with the importance of liquid inputs (Figure.15). These grades respect
water quality standards (excellent class) (<10 mg / l), except few peaks where maximum
values between 13.2 and 14.8 mg/l are recorded.
Figure 15. Inter-annual evolution of nitrates.
The contents of N-NH4 are low especially in winter. The highest values are recorded in
summer (0.55 and 0.48 mg/1 recorded in 04/2000, 05/2008 respectively).
Ptotal(mg/l)
M o nth
Bouhouda
1…
OrthoP(mg/l)
M o nth
Bouhouda
10/03/…
NH4+etAz.Kjld(mg/l)
M o nth
Bouhouda
NH4+
VG

Figure 16. Inter-annual evolution of ammoniacal nitrogen.
Kjeldahl total nitrogen contents (Figure 17) remain very low and fluctuate between 0 and
3 mg/l in the water reservoir.
Figure 17. Interannual evolution of Kjeldal Nitrogen
3.10. Iron and Manganese
The average iron content varies from 0 to 2.9 mg/l; all values recorded do not exceed the
guideline values, except for a few values observed during wet periods in 2000; 2001 and
2003. Concerning manganese, the majority of the values do not exceed the guide values. They
vary between 0.01 mg/1 to 0.19 mg /1 except for the years 2007 and 2008 where the recorded
contents are respectively 0.19 and 0.12 mg /1.
Nitrate(mg/l)
M o nth
Bouhouda
10/0…
NH4+etAz.Kjld(mg/l)
M o nth
Bouhouda
10/0…
Iron(mg/l)
M o nth
Bouhouda
Iron
Gui…
Manganese(mg/l)
M o nth
Bouhouda
Man…
Guid…

Figure 18. Evolution of manganese and iron in Bouhouda Lake waters.
3.11. Trophic state of Lake Bouhouda
Used by several authors to identify the trophic state of lakes, the Carlson index [18] (Trophic
State Index or TSI) is based on the fact that the degree of a lake eutrophication depends on the
nutrients’ increased concentration, including phosphorus. Generally, the increase in
phosphorus concentration results in a microscopic algae increase; as evidenced by the
chlorophyll (a) parameter measurements and the transparency decrease.
High values above 50 on the TSI scale are typical of eutrophic lakes with high biological
productivity, whereas the values below 40 on the same scale are usually representative of
oligotrophic lakes, where the water detains low biological productivity. Intermediate values
correspond to mesotrophic lakes.
In the following table the average values of the three considered parameters are reported
with their index namely transparency TSI (Secchi), chlorophyll a, PT and their average TSI:
Transparency (m)
Total phosphorus
(μg/L)
Chlorophyll (μg/L) Average TSI
Average values 0,19 377,78 4,91
TSI 83 ,93 89,72 46,21 73,28
Based on these TSI indices, Bouhouda lake can be classified as eutrophic hypertrophic.
The same observation is noted by the calculation according to the following diagram.
The transparency index, the total phosphorus index and the chlorophyll (a) index of
Bouhouda Lake correspond to the trophic eutrophic to hyper-eutrophic status (according to
the diagram in figure 19.
Figure 19: Lake Trophic Level Rank Diagram [19]
In summary, the trophic status of the lake corresponds to a eutrophic hypereutrophic stage.
This conclusion is based on the three indices which reveal low water transparency, high
phytoplankton biomass and high levels of total phosphorus.

Table 2. Lakes classification according to Vollenweider [20]
Trophic category Chlorophyll a
Ultra-oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Mesotrophic
Eutrophic
hypereutrophic
< 1
< 2,5
2,5-8
8-25
> 25
Thus, the trophic status of the Bouhouda reservoir-lake, based on the general average of
chlorophyll (a) and the Vollenweider's classification (1968), is also classified as hyper-
eutrophic lakes (Table 1).
4. CONCLUSIONS
The limnological diagnosis of the Bouhouda dam allowed us to note several particularities:
- The body water stratification and mixing regime is a monomictic body of water with a thermal
stratification that usually extends during the cold wet season of the year.
The thermocline created forms a barrier which prevents the well-oxygenated water
transport from the epilimnion to the hypolimnion. The production of microscopic algae in the
superficial layers is due to the light penetration which, in the presence of nutrients, causes an
excessive sedimentation of detritus. This sedimentation produces deoxygenation of the
hypolimnion where the anaerobic conditions are established and tend to rise very high in the
water column particularly in the summer season.
- Due to the presence of sufficient nitrates, which act as additional oxidizing material, bacteria
do not need to use the sulphates in the organic material decomposition processes, and
therefore there is no Hydrogen sulphide release, however iron, manganese, and ammonium
are presents.
- The Bouhouda dam water has a relatively high concentration on total phosphorus, a very
low transparency and a significant deficit in oxygen at the level of the hypolimnion. The
Bouhouda dam is classified in a eutrophic state to a hyper-eutrophic situation.
- If total phosphorus concentrations in the lake are maintained around the current load, and as
long as there are no long periods with poor water mixing and a prolonged anoxia in the
bottom waters of the lake, a strong release of phosphorus sediment would certainly be caused.
This would maintain the lake in a hyper-eutrophic state.
These results could contribute to establish specific programs and actions to reduce
phosphorus inputs according to the use of water, and to improve the water quality
management in terms of trophic response as part of a sustainable development program. It
would be interesting to complete this study with future work based on the mathematical
modeling of the lakes trophic states in order to carry out prevention procedures capable of
curbing the eutrophication phenomenon of the other Mediterranean water reservoirs.
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ASSESSMENT OF DAMS’ TROPHIC STATUS AS A TOOL FOR WATER RESOURCES’ SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT IN MOROCCO: CASE OF THE BOUHOUDA TAOUNATE DAM (MOROCCO)

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ASSESSMENT OF DAMS’ TROPHIC STATUS AS A TOOL FOR WATER RESOURCES’ SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT IN MOROCCO: CASE OF THE BOUHOUDA TAOUNATE DAM (MOROCCO)